Chrysanthemum plant named `Chakuse`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar named `Chakuse` is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a controlled breeding program. Attractive double bright yellow blossoms of the spider type are formed in profusion (as illustrated). The response period of the flowers is approximately eight and one-half weeks. Recurrent flower production throughout the year is possible. The plant possesses strong stems, forms attractive leaves, and commonly assumes a height of only approximately 25 to 30 cm. The new cultivar is particularly suited for use in the production of a decorative pot Chrysanthemum. No growth regulator is required to achieve the short plant height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andhereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name `Chakuse`.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program which hadas its objective the creation of a new Chrysanthemum cultivar that isintended primarily for pot mum production.

The breeding program which resulted in the production of the newcultivar of the present invention was carried out in a controlledenvironment during October 1984 at Nuaille, Trementines, France. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the `Fada` cultivar(non-patented in the United States) having double flat purple blossomsthat was created in France by a breeder named Bernard, and the maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the `Domi` cultivar (non-patentedin the United States) that is an old French cultivar havinghoney-colored blossoms in an anemone spray configuration. The parentageof the new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

    `Fada`×`Domi`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and many smallplantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits in profusion attractive double bright yellow spiderblossoms with upright petals,

(b) exhibits a flower response period of approximately eight andone-half weeks,

(c) is highly amenable to branching by pinching,

(d) achieves a short plant height, and

(e) is particularly suited for pot mum production on a recurrent basisthroughout the year.

The new cultivar is intended primarily as a decorative pot spiderChrysanthemum for growing indoors. However, the new cultivar can begrown outdoors at temperatures above freezing.

In the absence of debudding a profusion of blossoms form per stem (asillustrated). A greatly increased number of branches readily can beinduced by pinching. The pinching of a cutting commonly produces 5 ormore stems. No growth regulator is required to produce the short plantheight.

The new cultivar can be considered to be an October-flowering greenhousevariety with the natural flowering season commonly occurring in weeks 41and 42 of the year. Attractive blossoms can be produced on a recurrentbasis throughout the year with the indicated eight and one-half weekresponse period. The blossoms commonly last at least one and one-halfweeks on the plant, and commonly less than one week when placed in avase. Sometimes the blossoms become daisy-eyed with age.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings initially takenduring 1985, as performed in Nuaille, Trementines, France, in acontrolled environment has demonstrated that the characteristics of thenew cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation.

`Chakuse` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments.

The `Chakuse` cultivar can be readily distinguished from the `Chakara`cultivar (copending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/273,994,filed Jul. 12, 1994) that was produced by the cross of the same parentcultivars. More specifically, the new `Chakuse` cultivar exhibits ayellow spider capitulum and the `Chakara` cultivar exhibits a brightbronze anemone capitulum, the `Chakuse` cultivar exhibits a bushy growthhabit unlike the `Chakara` cultivar, the `Chakuse` cultivar exhibits rayflorets having rounded tips while those of `Chakara` are dentated, the`Chakuse` cultivar exhibits tubular disc florets while those of the`Chakara` cultivar are petaloid, and the `Chakuse` cultivar exhibits aresponse period of approximately eight and one-half weeks and the`Chakara` cultivar exhibits a lesser response period of approximatelyeight weeks.

Mutations of the sister `Chakara` cultivar are the `Chaplou` cultivar(copending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/273,992, filed Jul.12, 1994) and the `Chaprila` cultivar (copending U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 08/274,001, filed Jul. 12, 1994). Each of theseadditional cultivars exhibits an anemone capitulum unlike the spidercapitulum of the `Chakuse` cultivar of the present invention.

The new `Chakuse` cultivar of the present invention is being marketedunder the SUN trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were prepared during June, 1994, and showas nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in colorillustrations of this character, typical plants and plant parts of thenew cultivar of the present invention. The plants were 13 weeks of ageand were grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France, under standardgreenhouse conditions which approximate those commonly utilized for theproduction of decorative pot mums. The plants had been pinched once andhad not been disbudded. No growth regulant was utilized. Any labelsshown in the photographs are 2.5 cm. in width and can be used for sizecomparisons.

FIG. 1 illustrates typical specimens of the overall plant wherein threecuttings were placed in a 20 cm. pot. The bright yellow spider flowers,as well as the foliage, are apparent.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of typical flowers in various stages ofopening.

FIG. 3 illustrates from top to bottom, upper, side, and under views oflargely unopened buds.

FIG. 4 illustrates from top to bottom, upper, side, and under views ofthe flowers in the course of opening.

FIG. 5 illustrates from top to bottom, upper, side, and under views offully open flowers.

FIG. 6 illustrates at the top row the under surface of typical leaves ofvarious sizes and at the bottom row the upper surfaces of typical leavesof various sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter isthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. In some instances more common color terms are provided and areto be accorded their usual dictionary significance. The plants describedwere 13 weeks of age and were grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France,under standard greenhouse conditions which approximate those commonlyutilized for the production of decorative pot mums.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora, cv. `Chakuse`.

Commercial.--Decorative pot mum.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum:

Type.--Spider.

Diameter across face.--Medium, approximately 9 to 10 cm. on average whenfully expanded.

Frequency.--Corymbiform, and blossoms form in profusion (asillustrated). Night temperatures above 23° C. will delay flowering.Night temperatures as low as 14° C. generally can be tolerated, and evennight temperatures as low as 5° to 10° C. can be tolerated during thebud opening stage.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Disc florets.--Tubular, yellow in coloration, short to medium in length,numerous, a few tend to be scattered among the ray florets, but mostform a cluster at the apex of the receptacle that is visible when theflower head fully matures.

General tonality.--Bright yellow capitulum that tends to lose somebrightness as the blossoms fully mature.

Color ray florets.--Before anther dehiscence, Yellow Group 7B, and atanther dehiscence, Yellow Group 9A but more intense on the inside andYellow Group 7B on the outside.

Configuration ray florets.--Concave and sometimes rolled in crosssection, rough in texture, generally short and straight petals, high tovery high length to width ratio in the outer row of ray florets, andpossess rounded tips.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Generally present with disc florets and absent in rayflorets.

Gynoecium.--Generally present with most disc florets and with most rayflorets.

Pollen.--Present, and golden-yellow in coloration.

Fragrance.--Typical of Chrysanthemum.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.--Short, and approximately 25 to 30 cm. in height on average at10 weeks of age.

Growth habit.--Bushy.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--Green Group 137C to 143C, with the older insideleaves that do not receive as much light tending to be more yellowish.

Color (under surface).--Generally lighter green, approaches Green Group138A.

Long day leaf count.--Approximately 17 to 22 leaves per typical stem ina long day crop before the bud occurs.

Configuration.--Short and lobed (as illustrated).

Texture.--Fleshy.

Serration.--Medium.

Shape of base.--Rounded and tending to be slightly asymmetric.

Apex.--Cuspidate.

Internode length.--Very short to short, approximatley 1.5 cm. onaverage.

Stems.--Thin, average strength, round in cross section, nearest toYellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, and commonly with slightanthocyanin coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named`Chakuse`, substantially as herein shown and described, which(a)exhibits in profusion attractive double bright yellow spider blossomswith upright petals, (b) exhibits a flower response period ofapproximately eight and one-half weeks, (c) is highly amenable tobranching by pinching, (d) achieves a short plant height, and (e) isparticularly suited for pot mum production on a recurrent basisthroughtout the year.